The royal couple wanted to be part of the ceremony which is regarded as a sacred commemoration in Australian and New Zealand, when fallen soldiers are remembered in sombre ceremonies, old soldiers march down the streets to wildly cheering crowds.

A guard of honour of the Royal Australian Airforce, Navy and Army marched into the parade ground with the Royal Military College of Australia to wait for the royal couple's arrival.

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At 10.29am the Duke and Duchess arrived at the War Memorial's parade ground where they were received by Rear Admiral Ken Doolan and Mrs Elaine Doolan.

Kate was wearing a smart navy dress and navy pillbox hat, with navy heels and a red poppy brooch.

The brooch was given to her by Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith's wife Emma at an event at Government House on Thursday night.

Front row: Kate and William were escorted to their seat to watch the march by veterans of World War II, 20th century conflicts such as the Korean and Vietnam Wars and the more recent wars and peacekeeping efforts

Honoured: The Anzac Day march in Canberra at the Australian War Memorial featured the honour guard and band who were applauded

Beginning: A riderless horse led the Anzac March, representing loss in battle

But the Palace would not release further details about Kate's outfit, as they did not want to detract from the Anzac Day service.

The Duke wore a sprig of rosemary with the Gold and Diamond Jubilee medals given to him by the Queen pinned to this suit.

Kate and William were escorted to their seat to watch the march which included representatives of First World War veterans, and veterans of World War II, 20th century conflicts such as the Korean and Vietnam Wars and the more recent wars and peacekeeping efforts including the Gulf War, Rwanda, East Timor and Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Duchess chatted to Australian War Memorial director Dr Brendan Nelson, whom she was sitting next to during the service. The couple then talked quietly ahead of the service and the arrival of Governor General Peter Cosgrove.

Respectful: William and Kate stood for the arrival of Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove and wife Lynne Cosgrove, who stepped from their car as the Australian national anthem was played

Contemplative: The Duchess appeared deep in thought at the Commemorative Service at the Australian National War Memorial

Tweed: The Palace would not release further details about Kate's outfit, as they did not want to detract from the Anzac Day service

William and Kate were seated above the crowd in full view of the thousands crowded into the memorial ground.

They stood for the arrival of Sir Peter and Lady Cosgrove, who stepped from their car as the Australian national anthem was played.

Kate smiled and the couple applauded as the honour guard and band left the ground.

The Anzac march was led by a riderless horse, which represents loss in battle. The horse was then followed by veterans of more recent conflicts and peacekeeping efforts.

Solemn: The Royal couple laid a wreath of red poppies and bowed their heads at the Stone of Remembrance

Together: Their Royal Highnesses both held on to the large commemorative wreath

'Comrades in arms': Prime Minister Tony Abbott referred to the Royal family positively in his commemorative address

Salute: Three soldiers on horses ride past the Duke and the huge crowd

Next came the representatives of First World War veterans, then veterans from the Second World War, the Korean War, the Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam conflicts, as well as members of different corps, servicemen and women from other countries and cadets.

Also taking part in the parade were some surviving members of the Rats of Tobruk, soldiers from the Siege of Tobruk in World War II in 1941.

Plus Korean and Vietnam war veterans, military dogs, and young girls who were proudly marching with medals of their relatives.

Royal Australian Airforce veterans removed their hats and held them to their hearts as they walked past the Duke and the Stone of Remembrance.

The march past lasted 30 minutes and Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in his commemorative address that on the anniversary of the Gallipoli landing 'The First World War impacted on Australia like nothing before or since.'

Silence: William and Kate bow their heads as they take a silent moment after laying a wreath

Musical: The Duke and Duchess joined the crowd in singing along to the O Valiant Hearts hymn

Private moment: The Duke and Duchess are pictured talking by the poppy lined World War I Wall of Remembrance at the Australian National War Memorial

Tribute: The Duchess laid a wreath of poppies after the Anzac march at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra

Mr Abbott said the legends of Australians at Gallipoli such as the self sacrifice of Simpson and his donkey 'are our foundation stories like the ride of Paul Revere, the last stand of King Harald at Hastings.'

Mr Abbott looked at the Duke and said that although Australia had long since stopped regarding Britain as the mother country 'we are all still family'.

Adding: 'Your presence sir reminds us of all our comrades in arms.These are the ties that bind. Lest we forget.'

Following the laying of a wreath by Governor General Cosgrove and his wife, the Royal couple laid a wreath of red poppies and bowed their heads at the Stone of Remembrance.

Inside: The Royal couple gently placed small posies of rosemary and Australian native flowers, including Kangaroo Paw, inside the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier

Quiet: Another moment of silence was held by the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier

The Duke and Duchess joined the crowd in singing along to the O Valiant Hearts hymn.

After the march, the royal couple went inside for a special service, walking down the Hall of Memory, a narrow courtyard with a memorial pool surrounding an eternal flame, where they laid a floral tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian soldier.

Three FA-18 hornets flew overhead just before they entered the memorial and the duchess leaned over to whisper to the Governor-General.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge gently placed small posies of rosemary and Australian native plants including Kangaroo Paw on the verge of the tomb, which was scattered with poppies.

Silently they reflected on the grave before solemnly, and in unison, bowing their heads.

The neatly written message in Kate's posy read: 'In every second of every day, you will be remembered for your courage and your bravery. Thank you for your sacrifice and for what you have done for us. For that, I am truly grateful.'

First into the Hall of Memory was Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and his wife Lynne, who were each handed a posy to lay on the tomb.

Catherine and Prince William were next.

Then Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his wife Margie, followed by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, Australian War Memorial council chairman Rear Admiral Ken Doolan and his wife Elaine. The director of the memorial Dr Brendan Nelson and his wife Gillian Adamson also laid posies.

Green fingered: The Duchess used a shovel to help plant an Aleppo Pine sapling derived from seeds gathered after the battle of Lone Pine

Watched: The crowd eagerly took photos of the Duchess as she shoveled mud in Australia's capital

Reminder: The Duke and Duchess's visit on Anzac Day is remembered with an engraved shovel and special plaque by the tree they planted

Following the ceremony at the Australian War Memorial, the Duke and Duchess planted an Aleppo Pine sapling derived from seeds gathered after the battle of Lone Pine.

For Prince William, who served in Britain's Royal Air Force for more than seven years, the tree had a special family connection.

Prince Henry, the Duke of Gloucester - who later went on to serve as Australia's Governor-General after the Second World War - planted the original lone pine at the war memorial in October 1934.

That tree which is coming to the end of its natural life, was propagated from a pine cone from Gallipoli which Australian Lance Corporal Benjamin Smith, sent home to his mother Jane McMullin.

It commemorated his brother Mark who died on August 6, 1915 in the battle of Lone Pine, one of the bloodiest in the campaign with more than 2000 Australian casualties in four days.

Gift: William was given a photograph of Prince Henry's tree planting, framed in wood from the war memorial's lone pine

Back outside: The Duke and Duchess leave the War Memorial building after the Anzac Day commemorative service

Turkish troops had cut down pine trees for their trenches and only a solitary one remained when the battle began.

Mrs McMullin raised two seedlings - the other was planted at Inverell in NSW's north, where her sons enlisted.

For decades the Yarralumla Nursery has been collecting and propagating seeds and distributing saplings.

The Duke was given a photograph of Prince Henry's tree planting, framed in wood from the war memorial's lone pine, and commemorative wooden boxes as well.

Former Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella and her young daughters were among the crowd lining the path to see the couple.

They had a sign which read 'Wangaratta honours their service'. Her daughter Kitty, 3 and a half yelled out to Kate who later told Dr Nelson that the little girl was very beautiful.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend the annual Anzac Day dawn service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra

The pair shared in silent moments in memory of Australia's fallen war dead

The royal couple stood next to Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lynne Cosgrove (left)

WILLIAM WEARS JUBILEE MEDALS TO ANZAC SERVICE

The Duke of Cambridge wore two jubilee medals during dawn service.William, who served in all three branches of British armed forces but was never decorated for military service, pinned the honours below a sprig of rosemary traditionally worn by Australians and New Zealanders at the event.

He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, left on his chest, in 2002 because he is a member of the royal household.

The cupronickel medal, which is suspended from a broad royal blue ribbon with thin red and white stripes, was also awarded to 446,000 members of the armed forces, police, prison, and emergency services or for other civilians of merit.

The other decoration, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, which is suspended from a broad red ribbon with white and blue stripes, was awarded in 2012 and is among 450,000 made.

He would also have been eligible for this medal due to his membership of the armed forces as well as being a royal.

Earlier, at 5.30am, the Royal couple made an unexpected appearance at the Anzac Day dawn service at Canberra's War Memorial.

A royal source said they both felt it was appropriate they should be at the solemn service, which was attended by thousands and was presented by Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith - who attended a party at Government House with the Royal couple on Thursday night.

The royal couple stood next to Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lynne Cosgrove at the service, with the Duchess rugging up in a scarf.

Dressed in a black coat against the Canberra chill, Kate also wore black leather gloves as she stood beside William, her hands clasped in front of her as they listened to early readings.

On his own coat, the Duke wore his two medals given for service to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth - the golden jubilee medal and diamond jubilee medal.

He pinned the honours below a sprig of rosemary traditionally worn by Australians and New Zealanders on their main remembrance event.

The sprig of rosemary, also worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, are traditionally pinned to lapel because it was found growing in abundance on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey, where 11,430 Australians and New Zealanders, representing unparalleled slaughter for the young nations.

Shortly after the couple arrived at the Australian War Memorial, a young servicewoman reminded those present that the names and faces of the 40 soldiers killed in Afghanistan were being displayed on the memorial, to add to others killed in previous wars.

The Afghanistan conflict, the royal couple were told, is Australia's longest and most recent war and, as well as the fallen, more than 260 were wounded.

The Duke had referred to Australia's heroic war efforts in his farewell speech at Parliament House the day before.

Standing in the cold with the royal couple were tens of thousands of veterans, their families and ordinary members of the public to share in the solemn occasion.

Some sat with candles, while William and Kate and others in the official party held small torches to read the order of service.

Following the laying of two wreaths at the Stone of Remembrance, Australian army chaplain Peter Willis led the prayers, speaking of the extreme gratitude for those 'who laid their lives down for our sakes', adding that we remember 'with compassion those who still suffer' because of war.

The royal couple stood reverently, heads bowed as prayers were recited.

Then they both joined in with the hymn 'Abide with Me' before The Ode ending with 'we will remember them' was read.

As the Last Post was sounded, a crescent moon that had been barely visible above the memorial in the night sky became clearer as the clouds briefly parted.

In the commemorative address, given by Afghan war hero Corporal Roberts-Smith, he praised the Anzac spirit that lives on in servicemen and women.

But Corporal Roberts-Smith also praised the emergency services such as the firefighters who tackled bush blazes last year.

The Duke and Duchess had made it known that they wanted to attend the dawn ceremony because they knew how special and moving the event was.

As they prepared to leave, with families who had turned out to see them and share in the service huddled under blankets, the first birdsong could be heard.

The Duke of Cambridge wore two jubilee medals

Kate and William read the order of service by torchlight at 5.30am on Anzac Day

The ceremony is regarded as a sacred commemoration in Australian and New Zealand

Following the ceremony, Prince William and Kate appear to have no space on their schedule for a typical Anzac Day afternoon - go to a pub, rub shoulders with old ‘Diggers’ and catch a few tosses of the coin in a form of gambling called two-up made legal for only the one day each year.

But they may catch something of the raffish spirit of the Anzac Day crowd before jumping on a plane with Prince George for the long flight back to Britain.

Today’s Commemorative Service at the Australian War Memorial will focus on the looming First World War centenary and marks the day Australians fought their first battle as a federated nation, landing under Turkish fire at Gallipoli on April 25, 2015.

Kate and William both wore a sprig of rosemary traditionally worn by Australians and New Zealanders on their main remembrance event

Australia's Governor General and his wife Lynne stood next to the Duchess and Duke, with their hands clasped in front as they listened to the early morning readings

A man places a poppy flower into the World War I Wall of Remembrance at the Australian National War Memorial in Canberra on Anzac Day

Although Anzac Day spirit is not kind to ‘the Poms’ - the popular story, historically disputed, is British generals sent Australians to the wrong beach to get slaughtered in a bloodbath by Turkish troops – Prince William will no doubt be forgiven his nationality.

Australians will get their last glimpse of Prince George as the couple board a Royal Australian Air Force flight for London around 2pm.

The Duke and Duchess will told a group of schoolgirls earlier in the week that Prince George is carrying an extra roll of flesh the young heir put on while being spoilt as they conducted their tour Down Under, Prince William saying he wasn’t looking forward to the long flight with George who tended to be a bit ‘grumpy’ on the plane.

Thousands attend a dawn memorial service on ANZAC Day at the Australian National War Memorial in Canberra April 25, 2014

Images of Australian servicemen were projected onto the facade of the Australian National War Memorial in Canberra on the eve of ANZAC Day

The sunlit Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is reflected in front of memorial wreaths laid out on the eve of Anzac Day at the Australian National War Memorial in Canberra